NationalsProspects.com

Vote For Your Favorite Arms


Let’s hope the participation is better for this one… I had to make the call because I’m trying to still follow in my digital size 13’s from last December as best as I can, plus if I give this three days, it’ll fall right into my (new) normal publishing timeframe (Saturday or Sunday).

As in previous polls, send your Top 10 list to enfieldmass-top10arms[at]yahoo[dot]com (link will open your preferred email client) or post them in the comments.

Same methodology… I’ll compile the selections, weight them in reverse order (#1 = 10 points, #2 = 9 points… #9 = 2 points, #10 = 1 point) and then post the results along with my observations and snark.

I don’t think I’m going to need to get pre-emptively medieval on anyone’s buttocks by pointing out who’s on the older side or ineligible this year, as I did last year with the likes of Davis, Garcia, Jordan, and Karns. I only ask that if you name a pitcher who’s two of the three archetypes — old, young, and hurt — that you side towards the arm with less mileage and more upside.

Next up — barring a trade with the A’s — the Rule 5 draft.

33 Commments

  1. 1. Giolito 2. Cole 3. Lopez 4. Fedde 5. Voth 6. Rivero 7. Grace 8. Ott 9. Mendez 10. Walsh

    I know, I know. Where is Johanssen, Solis, maybe Purke, Moneyham? Personally, I don’t think any of them will even get close to the majors for various reasons.

    1. Newsworthy that you have Ott here; he’s so young that it’s hard to project. Only 17 when the Nats drafted him and a real wild card.

  3. 1. Gioiito
    2. Cole
    3. Lopez
    4. Voth
    5. Fedde
    6. Rivero
    7. Rodriguez
    8. Pivetta
    9. Dickey
    10. Solis

    1. Maybe I should have put Grace on my list as he is likely to have some value at the big league level. What about Treinen or Jordan? Are they still considered for this list?

  4. 1. Giolito
    2. Cole
    3. Fedde
    4. Reynaldo Lopez
    5. Voth
    6. Hill
    7. Walsh

    Big drop off (and because we need 10)

    8. Benincasa
    9. Pivetta
    10. Johansen

    1. For whatever it’s worth, J. Rodriguez, Self, Solis, Purke, Ott, and some of the Dominicans get an honorable mention, either due to injury concerns or being too young/inexperienced to be able to make any meaningful assumptions until they can repeat their performances consistently.

    1. Things I value in pitchers: a demonstrated ability to strike out batters and a demonstrated ability to not walk many batters.

      Since I don’t have the fortune of watching many, if any, of these players, I have to rely on stats and occasional anecdotal information from posters here.

      Unfortunately, our farm system is pretty devoid of players that fit both criteria, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing if they can’t do both. They’d just better be really good as one trait. Spann, however, isn’t very good at either. He hardly strikeouts anyone- only 63 in 106 innings (and an even lower rate in each of his previous two seasons). He also struggles with his command. He walked 38 and hit 7 other batters (also with similar numbers in ’12 and ’13). These numbers can work at low A levels, but once he makes it to the higher minors, the players get better. They don’t miss as much, and make better contact when they do, and Spann doesn’t miss enough bats to succeed.

      It also hurts that he had such an underwhelming season in Potomac at age 23.

  8. 1. Giolito
    2. Cole
    3. Lopez
    4. Voth
    5. Fedde
    6. Grace
    7. Suero
    8. Simms
    9. L. Torres
    10. Ott

    Honorable Mention: following Luke’s general guidance, I left off Hill and Martin. I’ll actually be surprised if Hill isn’t traded this off-season anyway. I still have my fingers crossed for Purke, Solis, Rivero, and Johansen, all of whom have the talent level to be in the top half of the list.

    1. De Los Santos would probably slot around 7th on my list. He looks promising, as does Bostick. Luke, do you remember much about these guys from games at Potomac? If Bostick is ticketed for Harrisburg, I’m not sure where that leaves Renda.

      1. De Los Santos I remember as being a hard thrower, but then again, the Pelicans always seems to have a bunch of hard-throwing relievers. Bostick I remember the name but not much else. I can’t see Bostick keeping Renda down… he’s young enough to either repeat or get moved over to 3B (a la Adrian Sanchez).

        1. Could Bostick be like Wooten added to plug
          A hole along with those graduating to Potomac ?
          Versatile enough to blend with difo, Dent,
          And whoever makes the climb up betwee. Masters and
          Middleton??

  9. For the old expo fans on here
    Notice Dombrowski tab Nelson
    Santovenia as Lakeland tiger hitting
    Coach. ?
    Could we have the natitude 2015 term-
    Motte- up save. Jason Motte???
    Luke , any prediction on any nats going
    In rule v ? Gut guess?

  11. I’ll be looking forward to seeing your lists but I’m not going to pretend to be familiar enough with the low minors to know enough to rank folks. I apologize to BATMAN Taylor for not weighing in on the bats and getting him into first place, though. In other news, I’m contemplating mocing from DC and I’ll be giving a little added weight to towns with Nats affiliates like Hagerstown, Harrisburg, and Woodbridge. Nobody’s getting me to move to Syracuse or Auburn anytime soon because I don’t do cold!

  12. Soul drummer. You are a true fan! Something about being in a town
    Without an affiliation.
    What a slow winter meetings. Thanks , Lester!
    Ott is liked cause he has steered clear of DL, Mark. Agree?

    1. The Nats got him early enough that he’s being treated right. He’ll be going into his third year and only 19 still.
      And yes, he’s still on his 1st elbow.
      I shudder when I hear numbers of $150 million for someone already on their 2nd elbow.

  13. 1. Giolito
    2. Cole
    3. Voth
    4. R. Lopez
    5. Fedde
    6. Grace
    7. Pivetta
    8. T. Hill
    9. Ott
    10. J. Rodriguez
    Honorable Mention: Walsh, Rivero, Solis, Johansen, Holland, Spann

  14. Luke Giolito
    Blake Treinen
    AJ Cole
    Rafael Martin
    Taylor Hill
    Rey Lopez
    Taylor Jordan
    Austin Voth
    Matt Grace
    Hector Silvestre

    Note – if Treinen is disqualified, add John Simms

  15. Hi. Long-time reader here. I noticed in Kerzel’s article the other day he indicated the team sees Cole as potentially a better fit in the pen. Since it’s already assumed Treinen will end up there, it makes me wonder if this pitching depth everyone talks about is really legit.Other than possibly Giolito, who is there to back fill when some of these starters leave for more $$?

    1. Even if they put Cole in the bullpen, he could always be transitioned back into a starter during spring training when the current starters become free agents. Other than Giolito and Cole, there’s Fedde and Lopez as middle of the rotation guys, and Voth as a potential number 5 starter or long man.

  16. MarkL. Lol! Ott still on his first elbow!
    Skole still a Nat – yes!
    Searching for AAA/AA rule five portion

      1. A little bit, but if that one goes the 3rd elbow is a low percentage result.
        See Braves, Atlanta

  17. 1. Lucas Giolito
    2. AJ Cole
    3. Reynaldo Lopez
    4. Austin Voth
    5. Erick Fedde
    6. Matt Grace
    7. Taylor Hill
    8. Gilberto Mendez
    9. Robert Benincasa
    10. Sammy Solis

  21. Herr Detweiler value tanked
    A utility infielder perhaps meant for
    AA or a safe Potomac
    Along with a reliever who was in Indy
    Ball last season.
    Where is the summer supply of balls for
    An affiliate tossed in?? Lol

Comments are closed.